LGBT Protests And Prayers At Divided Methodist Church Conference


The grumbles grew so loud, Bishop Bruce Ough, who is presiding over the United Methodist Church General Conference, was forced to issue a public statement concerning the potential splitting of one of the largest protestant denominations in the U.S.

The General Conference, a 10-day meeting held every four years, is where the church decides which rules they will follow. Like society at large, the church is forced to wrestle with what to do about gay marriage. On one side are more conservative members of the church who believe that the bible is clearly against homosexuality and therefore any recognition of same sex marriage, performing same sex marriage ceremonies and ordination of openly gay clergy is disallowed.


More progressive wings of the church believe scripture to be open to varying interpretations and more importantly, the individuals more important than church rules or doctrine.

Kimberly Knight, a blogger of all things queer and Christian and writes for Patheos, explained it this way in an open letter to the Methodist church.

“Throughout the Gospels, Jesus is stridently critical of the religious authorities of the day and their role as power brokers who draw legalistic, hard-hearted lines delineating who is in and who is out. If you truly worship Jesus the Christ, then you simply cannot live as guardians of the holy of holies. God’s table is open to everyone, everyone, everyone.”

A way forward that includes unity is not apparent. Protesters fighting for inclusion of LGBT members and clergy have staged protests at the conference.  Some have tied their hands and feet together and lay on the floor outside of meeting rooms singing the hymn “Blest Be The Tie That Binds.”

Ough, the incoming leader of the church, has found himself under fire from all sides. Conservative groups within the church have expressed concern about his candor in what they believed to be confidential discussions, and progressive groups have accused him of passing the buck.

“This morning, Bishop Ough said that at General Conference, the role of the bishop was to preside,” said the Rev. Tom Berlin, Virginia Conference. “Quite frankly, bishop, we think it’s your role to lead. We are asking for your leadership.”

Bishops cannot vote at General Conference, but they can call special sessions. A motion asking the bishops to meet and report back with a proposal for a way forward, passed.


The United Methodist Church is not alone. The Episcopal church is also still finding its way. The Episcopal Church supports gay marriage, even though the Anglican arm suspended them for doing so.

Ough says he hopes for unity.

“We remain in dialogue; so much of who we are is working, yet so much needs to adapt to new realities,” he said. “Come Holy Spirit and break through and set us free,” he prayed. “We belong to God and one another.”

Featured image by United Methodist News Service